1886 Election Cycle

Republicans swept all seven statewide partisan offices with six nominees winning open seats for Governor (Andrew McGill), Lieutenant Governor (Albert Rice), Secretary of State (Hans Mattson), Attorney General (Moses Clapp), Treasurer (Joseph Bobleter), and Clerk fo the Supreme Court (J.D. Jones). Auditor William Braden was the only incumbent on the ballot. Democrats nearly won the governorship for the first time since 1857 but Minneapolis Mayor Albert Ames came 1.2-points short of defeating McGill.

Democrats did flip three of the state’s five U.S. House seats – the open 1st CD (Thomas Wilson), the open 3rd (John Louis (J.L.) MacDonald), and the 4th (with Edmund Rice defeating Congressman John Gilfillan). The terms for Auditor and Supreme Court clerk were for four years; the terms for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Attorney General remained at two years.

Democrats gained several state legislative seats but Republicans still owned a 30 to 16 advantage in the Senate (with one Farmers’ Alliance lawmaker) and 66 to 34 majority in the House (with three from the Farmers’ Alliance).

Associate Justices William Marshall, D.A. Dickinson, and Charles Vanderburgh were all reelected to the Supreme Court.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/02/1886 U.S. House, District 03 General John Louis (J.L.) MacDonald (Democrat) won with 16,788 votes (50.32%) and a winning margin of +3.61
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
John Louis (J.L.) MacDonald Man Democrat 16,788 50.32
Benjamin Herbert Man Republican 15,583 46.71
Noah Lathrop Man Prohibition 988 2.96
See more details »
11/02/1886 U.S. House, District 01 General Thomas (Thos.) Wilson (Democrat) won with 17,491 votes (52.04%) and a winning margin of +8.41
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Thomas (Thos.) Wilson Man Democrat 17,491 52.04
John Lovely Man Republican 14,663 43.62
Daniel (D.H.) Roberts Man Prohibition 1,458 4.34
See more details »
11/02/1886 U.S. House, District 02 General John Lind (Republican) won with 22,908 votes (59.82%) and a winning margin of +25.19
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
John Lind Man Republican 22,908 59.82
A.H. Bullis Man Democrat 13,260 34.63
George J. Day Man Prohibition 2,114 5.52
See more details »
11/02/1886 State House, District 36 General Charles M. (C.M.) Reese (Republican) won with 1,167 votes (48.34%) and a winning margin of +14.54
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Charles M. (C.M.) Reese Incumbent Man Republican 1,167 48.34
A.H. Sperry Man People's 816 33.80
Oley N. (O.N.) Grue Man Prohibition 431 17.85
See more details »
11/02/1886 U.S. House, District 04 General Edmund Rice (Democrat) won with 34,034 votes (52.40%) and a winning margin of +7.89
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Edmund Rice Man Democrat 34,034 52.40
John Gilfillan Incumbent Man Republican 28,909 44.51
Lyman Denton Man Prohibition 1,990 3.06
See more details »